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  • March26th

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    Marisa Tomei Hoops It Up

    Posted in: Celebrity Fitness, Celebrity Weight Loss

    In order to develop a trim figure for her role as an exotic pole dancer in the movie The Wrestler, Marisa Tomei turned to an old childhood pastime – the hula hoop! “I hula hooped a lot, which is my favorite part of my routine. You’re using your core muscles,” says Tomei.

    But unlike the hula hoops of old, this hoop has a modern flavor to it. Tomei used a weighted hoop called the Hoopnotica, an adult-sized design that comes in different sizes and colors. The added weight in the hoop enhances the workout experience by enabling the hoop to spin longer. The added resistance is also great for toning muscles and burning fat. Tomei demonstrated this to great effect at the Ellen DeGeneres show where she taught hooping-newbie DeGeneres just how easy and fun it is to hula hoop.

    Tomei uses a variant of the Hoopnotica called a travel hoop. It can be twisted in half making it easy to pack and carry around with you as you travel. The ease of assembling and disassembling it makes it an ideal travel add-on. Hoopnotica also has instructional DVDs that show how best to use the hoop.

    Tomei is working with a fitness company to produce a hula hooping workout video entitled Core and Curves. This is the same company that popularized yoga as part of a workout regimen. Given time, this fad might just turn out to be the next big thing in the fitness world. First lady Michelle Obama has been spotted hula hooping at the White House front lawn.

    The best part about hula hooping is that its fun. There’s a reason why it was such a popular pastime before. By incorporating fun into your exercise routine, you can stay more focused and motivated as you achieve your weight loss goals.

  • March24th

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    Teens Body Image Dependent On Other Teens

    Posted in: Weight Loss Psychology

    We all remember the awkward stage of teenage adolescence where fitting in with all the other high school kids was an alien and often incomprehensible part of our existence. This is the stage where most people are still finding out about themselves and establishing their own identities. It made us more susceptible to peer pressure as we find comfort in the people who are most like us.

    The media has sometimes been blamed on the image-conscious youths of today. Fashion models and actresses are too thin is a common complaint found in most sectors. It turns out that the media might not be to blame after all.

    A study conducted at the University of Texas suggests that teenage girls look to each other when they make conclusions about their body image. Researchers scoured information from a national study on adolescent health and discovered a correlation between a girl’s weight loss goals and her peers average weight.

    For instance, girls in a school where most girls are underweight are more likely to view themselves as underweight. This motivates them to lose weight in order to look more like the other girls in the school. The opposite is also true. Girls in a school where the average weight is higher are less likely to try and lose weight.

    It is not uncommon for peers to influence perceptions. The herd mentality describes the way human behavior can be influenced by a group of “early adopters”. More and more people are swayed to follow this group as conformity is a decidedly human trait.

  • March22nd

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    Jeff Garlin Conquers Sugar Addiction

    Posted in: Celebrity Dieting, Celebrity Weight Loss

    Jeff Garlin’s new book, My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World, is about one man’s journey towards conquering his sugar addiction in order to lose weight and reducing his carbon footprint. The Curb Your Enthusiasm actor devoted one season of the show to a lifestyle makeover. In this tell-all book, Garlin shares with you the trials and tribulations he faced in this journey.

    Curb creator Larry David sometimes engages him in playful taunting by way of a cheeseburger-milkshake combo. But Garlin stands firm in his pledge to stay away from sugar. He notes that he hasn’t had sugar in over a year after quitting cold turkey. “It took three weeks of not sleeping, of feeling miserable, and then BOOM. I had energy, I felt good, I saw the world in a much clearer way,” says Garlin in a Regis and Kelly interview.

    Sugar, in itself, isn’t bad. In fact, the human body generates energy by burning sugar and turning it into glucose. However, when you consume too much sugar, the excess sugar is converted into fatty acids and stored by the body.

    Another danger is excess insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the human body use glucose as energy. When insulin levels are high (this can occur by consuming food and drinks with high simple carbohydate content), the body slows down its fat-burning processes so that sugar can be converted into energy. The process of ceasing insulin production has a delay. This causes blood sugar levels to drop thereby causing an increase in appetite.

    One way to avoid these problems is to control the amounts of sugar you consume. Candy, chocolate, and ice cream are all treats that you can enjoy from time to time, but be careful not to consume too much. Portion control is the key.

    Another method is to consult the glycemic index. This tells you which foods are best at helping regulate blood sugar levels. For example, whole grain bread is better than wheat bread because it doesn’t cause insulin levels to spike as much. It has a lower ranking in the glycemic index precisely because it has a better effect on your blood sugar levels due to its small fluctuations.

  • March19th

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    Cindy Crawford’s Power Exercise Routine

    Posted in: Celebrity Fitness, Celebrity Weight Loss

    There was a time when Cindy Crawford was the most well-known supermodel around. Those times may be long gone, but the sexy Crawford still has that supermodel figure. Crawford notes that she goes hiking a lot near her Malibu home. The new Power Plate is a device that Crawford uses to break up the monotony of her exercise routine. “I was hoping you could just stand on it but it doesn’t work that way,” she jokes.

    The Power Plate is a vibration device used for exercising. The machine is equipped with a vibrating platform that vibrates 25-50 times per second. The vibrations seek to facilitate the effectiveness of your exercise routine. Traditional exercises such as push-ups and squats can be done on the platform. The vibrating motion makes it harder to accomplish this as the force of gravity is increased. This results in exercise that is effectively worth up to 6 times the duration.

    The driving principle in the Power Plate is the patented Acceleration Training. By stimulating the body’s natural response to the vibrational motion, muscle contractions occur resulting in a more effective workout. Other benefits include: improved blood circulation, increased muscle strength, better flexibility, and faster recovery.

    Many scientific studies have been done on whole body vibration. One of the studies pertains to hip bone density. The tests performed on 90 women showed an increase in the hip bone density among those who trained using whole body vibration. By improving bone density, the risks of bone diseases such as osteoporosis can be lessened.

    Other studies show the results of better posture, increased muscle performance, and overall conditioning. The Power Plate is fast gaining popularity among athletes as a means to improving their performance in their respective sporting fields.

  • March17th

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    Alcohol Consumption Linked To Decreased Weight Gain

    Posted in: Natural Weight Loss

    It might just be that alcohol has benefits other than getting you inebriated. A study conducted by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Bostone indicates that moderate alcohol consumption can be linked to decreased weight gain. Before you start heading for the pubs, just remember that the effect is more pronounced for women than for men.

    In response to rising obesity rates in the United States, researchers conducted research on alcohol consumption, a practice believed to contribute to weight gain and obesity development. Women aged 38+ with no major health complications and normal body mass index were seperated into drinker and non-drinker groups and followed up on 12 years later. The results indicate that the drinkers showed gained less weight. They also had a decreased chance of being obese.

    The most important thing to note is that alcohol consumption was light to moderate. Don’t go out and get yourself drunk in an effort to lose a few pounds! Also of note is that the drinking was associated with increased calorie burning.

    This study, however, does not indicate that losing weight is as simple as consuming alcohol. It just shows that alcohol can help in weight loss. It is still more important to eat well and exercise regularly. No magic drink can replace those two practices.

  • March15th

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    Audrina Patridge Shines With Sunfare

    Posted in: Celebrity Dieting, Celebrity Weight Loss

    Reality TV veteran Audrina Patridge recently blogged about her diet. The star of The Hills employs the services of Sunfare meal delivery to ensure that she is able to control her portions effectively. Check out what Patridge typically eats in a day:

    Breakfast:
    Irish oatmeal with blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, vanilla tea.

    Lunch:
    Turkey wrap with ranch dressing, vegetable soup, cold passion fruit iced tea.

    Snack:
    String cheese, kiwi, almonds.

    Dinner:
    Steak with vegetables

    Patridge tries to consume 1200+ calories per day. With the help of the Sunfare Signature Diet, she is able to customize what she eats in a given day. Sunfare prides itself on food quality, customization options, and results. The program follows the 30/40/30 formula of eating. This is made up of 30% lean protein, 40% low GLI carbohydrates, and 30% monosaturated fat. This balanced diet offers many health benefits and helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels.

    Customization is very important for Sunfare. There are over 90 dishes available and you can control the ingredients to be used in these dishes. A food counselor is assigned to individual clients to ensure that they are meeting their dietary requirements and weight loss goals.

    Other programs are the Sunfare Vegetarian Diet and the Sunfare Family Dinners. They all follow the basic principles of the Sunfare Signature Diet, but it offers ever more choices to the varying needs of everyone. Sunfare manufactured supplements are also available. Vitamins and Fish Oil supplements are great additions to the Sunfare package.

  • March12th

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    Molly Ringwald Goes Green

    Posted in: Celebrity Dieting, Celebrity Weight Loss

    Molly Ringwald hasn’t had much time in the spotlight since her days as the teenage icon in the 80s. The Breakfast Club star is now a proud mother of twins (son Roman and daughter Adele). When asked about how she lost the weight, Ringwald says, “I try to make sure that I eat something green.” In addition, she eats fewer sweets and starch and takes in more protein and vegetables.

    Green leafy vegetables pack quite the nutritional punch! It has loads of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and phytonutrients. The benefits are numerous – it protects against cell damage, regulates inflammation and blood clotting, and helps prevent diseases. It is also a good source of Vitamin K. This vitamin helps keep your bones strong. All this is a low-calorie package.

    Greens are also beneficial if you want to control your blood sugar. There is little carbohydrate content in greens. Instead, it contains fiber that helps regulate blood sugar, and makes you feel fuller. It also helps in the digestive process.

    The color of the greens is important. Make sure to select leaves with a vibrant color. The darker green vegetables typically have more nutrients in them. If the leaves are yellowish in color, this is a sign of age that may affect the taste.

    There are many greens to choose from. Kale is a good example. It is a type of cabbage that can be an excellent addition to salads. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects along with its high vitamin K content. Broccoli is also from the cabbage family. You see parents everywhere encouraging their kids to ear broccoli, and for good reason! It has many of the health benefits listed above.

    Folate is a vitamin found in many leafy greens such as spinach and romaine lettuce. It is essential for producing and maintaining new cells. It is also used to produce red blood cells. For these reasons, growing children can especially benefit from eating these green rich in folate.

  • March10th

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    Slow And Steady Wins The Race

    Posted in: Healthy Lifestyles, Natural Weight Loss

    In an era where weight losses are tracked weekly in reality shows like The Biggest Loser, it can be easy to think that losing 5-10 pounds in a pinch is the norm. These expectations are unrealistic and can lead you to regard diets that don’t achieve this as ineffective. Temper your expectations and you will find that the results can be just as good, if not better.

    Health experts cite 1-2 pounds lost per week as a realistic target. Research shows that weight loss is easier when you start that diet or exercise regimen before it plateaus and weight loss becomes that much harder. This is the period when only your will and dedication can lead to good results. Remember that the formula for losing weight is simple: you need to expend more calories than you consume. Every successful diet or exercise plan either helps you expends more calories or makes you cut down on calories consumed. The key is staying focused and motivated enough to continue with the program.

    The good news is that it gets easier the more you get used to your diet and exercise programs. A decrease in overall body weight also decreases the body’s energy requirements. This means that you need to consume less food that when you initially started losing weight. Exercise is also something that you will grow accustomed to. Exercising for a sufficient amount of time releases pleasure-inducing chemicals that make you feel better as you are exercising. That should be enough motivation to start exercising!

    All else fails, just remember the basic formula that every dieter should start from: expend calories, consume less calories. Eat well, exercise enough, and the results should be there.

  • March8th

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    Sophia Bush Boxing-Cardio Regimen

    Posted in: Celebrity Fitness, Celebrity Weight Loss

    Sophia BushSophia Bush sees herself as a role model for teenage girls everywhere. The actress is most known from her role in the CW series One Tree Hill – a show that skews to a large teenage girl demographic. Bush is not a fan of crazy weight loss methods and instead focuses on living a healthy lifestyle. That healthy lifestyle is achieved through one of her passions – Boxing!

    Bush and her personal trainers Jason Walsh and Harley Pasternak work together around four times a week. The boxing exercise regimen is composed of exercises such as heavy-bag training. The heavy bag is of course one of the major tools used by boxers in preparation for fights to develop punching power. It is a stuffed bag weighing between 40 to 100 pounds. The weight makes punching the bag a very strenuous exercise!

    It’s not all about punching, though. Footwork is a critical component to any boxer’s arsenal. It allows the boxer to evade punches and get into position to deliver a punishing blow. Circling the heavy bag while delivering a combination of punches will develop that skill. For regular joes, it serves as a great full-body cardiovascular exercise. Coordination and core stability are also developed.

    Perhaps another benefit to punching a heavy bag is the opportunity to unload some stress! After a taxing day at the office, it might just be time to unwind by unloading all the pressure you’ve accumulated on a willing target in the heavy bag. Just remember to observe proper technique and safety precautions. Warm up with light punches before going all out. Punching too hard too much will lead to hand injuries!

    It is also a good idea to enlist the help of trainers just at Bush does. They will show the proper form and technique to achieve maximum results. Punching with the proper form minimizes the risk for injury and also aids in developing coordination. You’ll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee in no time at all!

  • March5th

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    Sophie Dahl Channels Her Ancestors

    Posted in: Celebrity Weight Loss

    Sophie DahlSophie Dahl comes from a family of celebrities with renowned author and grandad Roald Dahl being the most famous. Sophie herself is a regular contributor to Vogue and Food Illustrated in addition to being a model. She is noted for being one of the first models who have railed against the need for ultra-thin models. “Starving is not sexy,” says Dahl before listing the myriad of health complications that may arise from it.

    Dahl has had many experiences when it comes to food, and she has shared it with us in her book Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights. This collection of 100 recipes is intended to serve as a helpful resource on eating healthy while indulging in some delicious cuisine. Drawing from recipes learned from her family and her own misadventures, Dahl pens a wonderfully whimsical compendium of recipes and the stories that go along with it.

    Check out some of the recipes found in the cookbook: Grandma Gee-Gee’s Ginger Parkin, Dad’s Chicken Curry, Coconut Curry with Prawns, and Chocolate Chestnut Souffle. The recipes are divided into season so there should be something appropriate no matter the time of year.

    The book is loads of fun, and it should be given that the book was conceived by Sophie after having nightmares about food. One of her nightmares involved being chased through a forest by men made of mashed potatos in striped thights, she describes in an interview with the New York Post. You can expect the same kind of creative delights in the book itself.

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